We cover the full chain, from the first sample to final delivery in Canada. The volumes traded justify that integrated approach: Canada imports heavily from Asia, above all from China, Vietnam and India.
One point of contact between the Asian factory and your Canadian warehouse.
Trans-Inter Logistik coordinates supplier sourcing, quality inspections and the transport of your goods from Asia through to delivery in Canada.
Our Asia import services
Sourcing and auditing Asian suppliers
Our partner on the ground in Asia identifies the factories able to make your item, compares prices and checks their export history. You get a short list of suppliers with their certifications and their real production capacity.
AQL and ISO quality control at the factory
Inspections follow AQL protocols and the applicable ISO standards: during-production control, pre-shipment verification and lab sampling when needed. You receive a written report with photos before the container leaves the factory.
Loading supervision at the factory
Our representatives attend the container stuffing, check the condition of the container and validate the blocking and bracing methods. The loading report documents what actually ships, which settles most disputes before they reach you.
Ocean and air freight from Asia
We book the space, prepare the export documentation and coordinate ocean freight in FCL or LCL as well as air freight through our network. Commercial documents are prepared and then handed to your customs broker, who takes over on arrival.
How we handle your Asia import
The path runs in five steps and you keep the same point of contact from start to finish.
- You share your product sheet, your volumes and your go-to-market schedule.
- We shortlist the factories, negotiate the samples and have you approve them.
- Quality inspections validate production before the final payment to the supplier.
- We book the transport mode and supervise stuffing at the port of origin.
- Your goods arrive in Canada and final delivery moves by FTL transport or LTL freight.
Chinese New Year and your imports
Chinese factories close for several weeks around the Lunar New Year and production restarts slowly, as crews come back. Container demand climbs in the weeks before the shutdown, which tightens space and rates. So we plan your first-quarter orders backward from that date: samples approved, production launched and stuffing finished before the doors close.
Twenty-five years moving goods across the Pacific that arrive exactly as specified.
Transit times and modes for Asia imports
Le maritime reste le mode de référence pour les gros volumes, le fret aérien sert les réassorts urgents et les produits à forte valeur au kilo. On compare les deux à chaque commande selon votre marge, votre niveau de stock et votre date de mise en marché.
Les délais réels dépendent de l’usine, du port de départ, des correspondances et du transport terrestre au Canada. La traversée n’est qu’une partie du calendrier. Notre article sur la durée d’un transit maritime détaille ce qui allonge ou raccourcit un parcours.
Planning an import from Asia?
Tell us what you want to import and where from: we come back with the mode, the schedule and the checkpoints.
Request my quoteCanadian arrival ports for your imports
Most containers from Asia enter through Vancouver or Prince Rupert, then keep moving east. Montreal also receives services from Asia, which shortens the last mile for a Quebec consignee.
The port of entry changes your schedule and your inland transport bill. We arbitrate between a west coast entry extended by intermodal rail transport and direct entry at Montreal, based on where your customers sit.
The port of entry changes your schedule and your inland transport bill. We arbitrate between a west coast entry extended by intermodal rail transport and direct entry at Montreal, based on where your customers sit.
Cost factors for an Asia import
The factory price is one share of your landed cost. Here are the line items that move the most from one order to the next:
the ocean or air freight rate on the day you book
container fill, since a poorly optimized FCL gets paid for twice
port charges, demurrage and container detention
the incoterm you pick, which decides who pays what and from where
inland transport in Canada, including temperature-controlled shipping for food products
the ocean or air freight rate on the day you book
container fill, since a poorly optimized FCL gets paid for twice
port charges, demurrage and container detention
the incoterm you pick, which decides who pays what and from where
inland transport in Canada, including temperature-controlled shipping for food products
Why trust us with your Asia import
Founded in 2000, Trans-Inter Logistik brings together 25 years of freight brokerage and a presence on the ground in Asia through a strategic partnership. We coordinate sourcing, quality control and all four transport modes through our network of vetted carriers. Everything downstream is coordinated through our 3PL logistics offering.
One supplier chosen, one shipment inspected, one container that lands: a single file.
One supplier chosen, one shipment inspected, one container that lands: a single file.
FAQ: importing from Asia to Canada
How do you find reliable suppliers in Asia?
Our partner on site visits the factories and checks their export history, their certifications and their real production capacity. We then compare three or four candidates on price, lead time and consistency of quality. You receive a short list with the matching samples, and you make the call. The chosen supplier stays monitored order after order.
What quality checks do you run before shipping?
Inspections follow recognized protocols: during-production control, pre-shipment verification at AQL levels and compliance with the applicable ISO standards. Lab sampling is added for regulated products. Each pass produces a written report with photos, sent before the container is stuffed. You then decide whether to release the goods or have the lot reworked.
Does Chinese New Year affect my timelines?
Yes, and it is the most underestimated factor of the first quarter. Chinese factories close for several weeks around the Lunar New Year and the restart is gradual, as crews come back. Container demand climbs in the weeks before the shutdown, which tightens space and rates. We plan your January to March orders backward from that date.
Should I choose ocean freight or air freight?
Ocean suits volume, heavy products and schedules set well in advance. Air serves urgent restocks, launches and items with a high value per kilogram. Many importers combine the two: the bulk of the order by ship, a first tranche by plane to open sales. We price both scenarios before every booking.
What is an AQL inspection?
AQL (acceptable quality level) is a standardized sampling method recognized across Asia. The inspector pulls a number of pieces set by the size of the lot, then counts critical, major and minor defects. The lot passes or fails against thresholds agreed with you in advance. It is the reference used in Asian manufacturing.
Which Canadian ports will my goods arrive in?
Most containers from Asia enter through Vancouver or Prince Rupert, on the west coast, then continue east by rail or by road. Montreal also receives direct services, often a shorter entry for a Quebec or Ontario consignee. Halifax rounds out the picture on certain routes. We pick the port based on where your customers sit and on your schedule.
Which incoterm should I use when importing from Asia?
FOB stays the most common: the supplier delivers on board at the Asian port and you keep control over the choice of carrier. CIF hands that choice to the seller, which simplifies the purchase but reduces your visibility on arrival charges. FCA works well for air freight. We review the incoterm with you for each new supplier.
Do you import from countries other than China?
Yes. Our network covers Vietnam, India, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, on top of China. The country you pick depends on your product category, your volumes and the lead time stability you are after. Several Canadian importers split their production across two countries to limit risk.
Ready to source in Asia?
Send us your product sheet and your volumes: we come back with a sourcing and transport plan.